Nnamdi Kanu’s N50 Billion Lawsuit Against FG Struck Out

The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a N50 billion lawsuit filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), against the Federal Government.

According to VANGUARD, Justice Inyang Ekwo on Thursday ruled that the suit was no longer sustainable due to “lack of diligent prosecution”.

Kanu’s lawsuit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/462/2022, alleged that the Federal Government violated his fundamental rights by kidnapping him from Kenya and bringing him back to Nigeria for trial.

He claimed that this action was inconsistent with existing laws, citing Article 12(4) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Section 15 of the Extradition Act.

The case had been adjourned multiple times due to the absence of Kanu’s legal representation. On the last adjourned day, only the Federal Government’s counsel was present in court. Justice Ekwo noted that the case had taken three adjournments due to no representation, leading him to strike out the case.

In his lawsuit, Kanu sought 11 reliefs, including an order for his release from the Department of State Services’ custody, an order restraining the defendants from further prosecuting him over a pending criminal charge, and N100 million in damages for the alleged violation of his rights.

The Federal Government and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) had filed a preliminary objection, arguing that the lawsuit was an abuse of court process. They claimed that Kanu had filed a similar suit with identical facts at the Federal High Court in Umuahia, involving the same parties.

VANGUARD